absolutely idiotic, and allow me to come back and see you another
time."

He cast on me a gentle and amiable look. I was near embracing
him. As for him, his eyes again began to fill with tears; he saw
that I perceived it and turned away his head.

"Come," I said, "courage."

"Good-bye," he said.

And, making a desperate effort to restrain his tears, he rushed
rather than went out of the room.

I lifted the curtain of my window, and saw him get into the
cabriolet which awaited him at the door; but scarcely was he
seated before he burst into tears and hid his face in his
pocket-handkerchief.



Chapter 5

A good while elapsed before I heard anything more of Armand, but,
on the other hand, I was constantly hearing of Marguerite.

I do not know if you have noticed, if once the name of anybody
who might in the natural course of things have always remained
unknown, or at all events indifferent to you, should he mentioned
before you, immediately details begin to group themselves about